Tuba concerto in China

[brianf]

On September 18, 2005 there will be a performance of the John Williams Tuba Concerto and Orchestra. While performances of tuba concertos are becoming common, this performance is special. First, the soloist is Micky Wrobleski, a frequent Tubenet poster. He will be doing this with his fellow members of the Beijing Symphony for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a high holiday China. This will take place at the at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.

Not only will this be the premiere of the John Williams tuba concerto, it may be the first time any tuba concerto has been performed with any major orchestra in China. More than 20 years ago the tuba was banned in China - while there has been an explosion of the tuba in the rest of the world, an entire generation has been deprived of this for nearly one-third of the world’s population. Harvey Phillips calls this event “Definitely a ‘first’ and one might add ‘miracle of achievement’ when one considers the heretofore unknown future of the tuba in China.â€

[Ace]

Brian,

Thanks for the interesting post. I think we all wish Micky great success.

You mention that tubas were banned in China some years ago. Do you know how that ban may have affected the Dalyan tuba production? Their site says they have been producing tubas for 50 years.

http://www.dalyantubas.com/

[windshieldbug]

Do you know how that ban may have affected the Dalyan tuba production? Their site says they have been producing tubas for 50 years.

Maybe they were just band.

[brianf]

I do not know the full story about the banning of the tuba in China. Harvey Phillips told me that a former emporer's wife thought the tuba was a crude instrument so she had it banned. Years later, with the Cultural Revolution, China wanted full symphony orchestras. This ment they needed tubas. What did they do? Got Micky in from Chicago.

This sounds like an interesting story, maybe after this weekend we can get Micky to explain what went on years ago.

[tubatooter1940]

Fascinating thread,guys. I did not know of the Chinese tuba ban but it makes perfect sense. No national leader's wife cracked down on tubas here in the west but tubas have been de rigeur until just recently.
The farty sound of a tuba in certain registers cannot be denied but polite company is now looking past it for the pleasure of getting thier ears pinned back by a powerful tubist. The low gusto is on the rise. I read on this forum of more and better tuba solo performances recently.
I believe that this can be the breakout generation of tuba players. There is less and less to impede us from doing what we love to do. Let's just be prepared with our skills and good material so we don't blow the opportunity.
Let's go get 'em gang,
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

[Steve Marcus]

Brian:

Much of the attempted communications between Micky in China and me here in the US has been..."blocked."

How have you been able to get through?

[jasondham]

Hello All...

I have enjoyed reading about the upcoming performance of Micky Wrobleski and the John Williams Tuba Concerto. He is to be congratulated, and I wish his performance well. However (and not at all intended to burst ANYONE's bubble), 11 months ago I was in Beijing to perform with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Band of China. During the visit, I had the chance to interview the members of the band to discuss both the development of the euphonium and tuba in China.

In that discussion amongst the 20 or so tuba players and 10 euphonium players, I also found out that the Band of the PLA has been in existence since June 10, 1952. Actually founded as the Demonstrator's Party Band in 1947, the band was "dis-banded" (sorry) in 1949 when the Communist Party came into power. With the need for military music coming a short time later, many of the members who had been in the Demonstrator's Party Band in '47 and '48 were brought back to the PLA Band. This included several tuba and euphonium players, and they have been employed by the central government ever since.

In fact, when I was there, the tuba and euphonium players of the band told me that they've seen lots of growth for their instrument within the last 15 years, especially since China (and major cities like Beijing) have really started to open up to the west. I was really surpriused to see a tuba quartet in the PLA Band, and in fact, I am currently trying to get them to come to ITEC 2006 in the USA.

So, again, not to burst anyone's bubble, given the fact that I saw some really surprisingly strong tuba and euphonium players in the PLA Band, which is completely supported by the Chinese government, if there was a ban of the tuba (or the euphonium, for that matter), it's highly unlikely that it was supported by the government. At least, that's what the players in China are telling me!

[brianf]

Micky did it!

There is streaming audio at:

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2242/2005-9 ... 274082.htm

[dtemp]

Props to a UW - EC alum!